Weathering and Erosion

Which would most likely increase the erosion caused by a stream?

• Increased Rainfall

• Decreased animal life

• Decreased temperature

• Increased Evaporation

Tags

NGSS.4-ESS2-1

Many processes that shape Earth happen over thousands of years. Some processes happen much more quickly. Which of the following has the potential to change Earth's landforms quickly?

• The carving of a valley by a glacier

• The formation of a canyon by a river

• The erosion of sand on a beach by storms

• The weathering of rocks by wind

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NGSS.4-ESS2-1

Dalton noticed that recent rain had loosened up the dirt in his backyard. As a result, much of the dirt had moved around. There were holes and mounds where the dirt had been level before. This is an example of which of the following?

• An earthquake

• Weathering

• A mudslide

• Erosion

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NGSS.4-ESS2-1

Ricky created a model of a glacier to help explain how glaciers change the surface of Earth. He froze two large blocks of ice. One block was pure water. The other was water mixed with sand and rocks. He took both blocks and rubbed them across a sheet of tinfoil. The block of pure water slid smoothly over the tinfoil. The block with sand and rocks ripped the tinfoil in many places. How does Ricky's model explain how glaciers change Earth's surface?

• The rocks and sand contained in most glaciers create grooves in Earth's surface.

• The rocks and sand contained in some glaciers fill the grooves in Earth's surface.

• Pure glaciers and glaciers that contain rocks and sand affect the Earth in exactly the same way.

• The water in pure glaciers cools Earth's surface.

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NGSS.4-ESS2-1

NGSS.5-ESS2-1

Which type of stream is most likely to cause the greatest amount of erosion?

• A slowly moving stream with a small amount of water.

• A quickly moving stream with a small amount of water.

• A quickly moving stream with a large amount of water.

• A slow moving stream with a large amount of water.

Tags

NGSS.4-ESS2-1

On a recent field trip to a local river, the science class collected several rocks from the river bed. The rocks were all smooth and rounded. Why were the rocks in the river bed smooth?

• Rushing water in the river wore away any jagged edges.

• The minerals from which the rocks are made cannot form jagged edges.

• Over centuries, the action of the wind caused the rocks to become smooth.

• Plants along the river released substances that mixed with the water to smooth the rocks.

Tags

NGSS.4-ESS2-1

Kourtni wonders how a mountain in the Snowy Mountains of Wyoming came to look the way it does. There is a large crack in the mountain, and many small pieces have fallen into the hole.

What most likely caused this to happen?

• Lava flowing down the side of the mountain.

• Rainwater running down the side of the water.

• Mountain goats walking on the side of the mountain.

• Sandstorms hitting the side of the mountain.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

Hailey and her brother made a sand castle at the beach. Hailey slowly poured water on top of the sand castle. Some of the sand ran down the side of the castle with the water. What type of phenomenon did Hailey demonstrate?

• Weathering by temperature change.

• Erosion by heat.

• Weathering by water.

• Erosion by water.

Tags

NGSS.4-ESS2-1

Which of the following is not a cause of weathering?

• Water freezes in a crack in a rock.

• A plant grows in a crack in a rock.

• Sand blows against a rocky surface.

• A river carries sand and sediment downstream.

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NGSS.4-ESS2-1

Underground caverns are an example of weathering and erosion. Their formation might be best explained by which choice?

• Wind weathers and erodes rock particles.

• Cold temperatures cause ice to form and break rock apart.

• Groundwater dissolves minerals, forming underground cavities.

• Gravity moves particles of rock downhill.

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NGSS.4-ESS1-1

NGSS.4-ESS2-1